Boat hire & yacht charter in France

Hire a boat with or without a skipper in France

with SamBoat. Choose from a wide selection of sailboats, motorboats, RIBs, catamarans, yachts and canal boats. We offer a huge range of boats to hire from 50€/day. With the best offers, SamBoat helps you to find the ideal yacht hire in France for the perfect vacation.

Renting a boat in France 

In France, you will have an endless choice of destinations to sail from. From world-famous events to sailing competitions known globally, you will find exactly what you're looking for in a dream vacation. When it comes to sailing in France, you will have access to not only the coasts but the inland waters that are beautiful and charming. Hire a yacht in Marseille or hire a boat in Toulon, there is something for every sailor in France. Having more than 18,000km of coastline, France has the world’s largest maritime surface.

With the number of sailors and its long-standing traditions, France is known largely as a maritime nation. When travelling along the coast, you will notice the rich abundance of cities and towns along with beautiful countryside that will surely provide a memorable experience. After you hire a boat, you can explore the vast array of inland waters that will provide rich scenery and a diverse offering of regional cuisine and drink.

In France, you’ll quickly learn that each geographic region is unique and provides its special personality. Aside from its gastronomical treasures and incredible wines, the landscape and coasts are what help to make this country a main destination for over 85 million tourists each year. Whether you choose to hire a catamaran in France and explore the coastline or hire a sailboat in France and enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters, the adventures in France are endless. 

Pricing and information about hiring a boat in France

One of the most attractive things to sailors about France is the variety of coasts and options that are available. For instance, hiring a boat in Corsica is one of the best choices, as it has beautiful coasts and crystal clear water. The sailing season in France is pretty standard starting in May and running into the end of October. For most regions, the prices are highest starting in June and ending in August to mid-September. When hiring a yacht, prices will be on average between 350€ to 450€ per day for catamarans and sailboats. When renting motor boats, the range will be much larger. It is best to define your project by activity and see what boat best suits your needs. The prices will be a bit different depending on if you would like to go diving or if you would like to simply explore the coast. Smaller motorboats will start around 150€ for the day. 

Boat Availability 

If your goal is to hire a yacht for the high season, you'll have to book well in advance. For summer charters, more than half of the boat hire service is already booked by March. If you book after this month, the number of the fleet that is booked goes up to nearly 80%. We recommend beginning your search for charters in November to ensure you find a boat that best suits your project. For day boats, the availability will depend on the port. In major ports, you'll have to book well in advance (we recommend at least 2-3 months before). In some instances, you may be able to find a day boat closer to the date of departure depending on available inventory. 

Do you need a license to sail in France?

After you choose your destination, make sure you search for a boat that suits your exact needs. Choose a motorboat or sailboat, with or without a skipper and make sure you fully explore the unique and beautiful country of France. In France, if you choose to hire a bareboat, the conditions will be different for motor boats and sailboats. When renting a sailboat, a license is not mandatory as long as you can provide a rich nautical CV detailing your previous experience. When renting a motorboat, a license is mandatory, unless you are renting a canal boat with fewer than 6hp. 

Discover the Diffehire Regions 

There is no need to introduce the Mediterranean. From the boat parties at Cannes Film Festival to the luxury yachts in Saint Tropez, the French Riviera as a yacht hire destination is famous worldwide and attracts not only the rich and famous but everyone interested in beauty and sailing. Sailing yachts and motorboats are numerous on Samboat and we are sure you’ll find the boat you are looking for. Hire a boat in Arcachon and find out what the bay has to offer. If you want to stay close to the region, you can also hire a boat in la Rochelle and explore the location a little bit up north from Bordeaux. Right next to La Rochelle, you're also able to hire a yacht in Saint Martin de Ré. It's a small town on a beautiful island just off the coast. Depending on where you want to go, France offers some of the best boating locations. If you happen to be on the northern side of the country, don't miss out by renting a boat in Brittany.

Most people who come to France have Paris in mind. If you want to be in Paris but also take part in an enjoyable boating experience, don't look elsewhere, if you hire a boat in Paris you will see some great sceneries that look amazing from the Seine.

Biscay France (think of it as half of a croissant) is a great alternative for people who want to experience something different from the French Riviera yacht charter lifestyle. Compared to the “Côte d’Azur”, the Biscay region has large sandy beaches. From Biarritz to Lorient, you will find a lovely harbour for mooring your boat. Boat hires are well adopted in this region and you will find plenty of boats available for hire. Whatever your sailing level, the Biscay region is an amazing playground for boating.

Finally, the fluvial area in France is quite famous. Canal boat hires in France are numerous and easy to find on SamBoat. Canals and rivers cross the stunning beauty of France’s countryside and you can expect some jaw-dropping scenery from the beginning of your canal boat holidays to the end. For example, hire on Canal du Midi as it is abstemious and might be our favourite one. If you want to cruise along the shores of a beautiful lake, hire a boat in Annecy. The mesmerizing mountains make for a great view and there are plenty of spots to explore on the lake.

Be sure to check for boat itinerary inspiration on our blog if you don’t know which region of France to choose before renting a boat. Here are some other great destinations to hire a boat in France:

- Hire a boat in Cap d'Agde

- Hire a boat in Cassis

- Hire a yacht in La Ciotat